Adjustable throw-crank for cycles or other machines.



PATENTBD DEC. 20, 1904.

J. RITSOHER. ADJUSTABLE THROW CRANK FOR GYOLBS OR OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1904.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

1 nym.

PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

J. RITSCHER. ADJUSTABLE THROW CRANK FOR CYCLES OR OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.1B, 1904.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Safiiz Zia/Z61" Z zgzeaafcd,

No. 778,147. I PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. J. RITSCHER.

ADJUSTABLE THROW CRANK FOR CYCLES OR OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SH EBT 3.

UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH RITSGHER, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,147, dated December 20, 1904:.

Application filed J anuary 18, 190a. Serial No. 189,598.

gineer, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at N o. 319 Swanston street, Melbourne, in the British State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Throw-Crank for (Jycles or other Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of an adjustable throw-crank for cycles and other machines. It is so constructed and arranged that the adjustment of the throw or the increasing or decreasing of the stroke of the cranks can be effected by the cycle-rider while he is upon the machine, and hence the throw of the cranks can be readily increased to ascend a hill or in-' cline and, conversely, be lessened when upon a level road.

The invention is also adapted for use with any crank-operated machines wherein it is necessary to adjust the throw of the cranks,

and where such machines are constructed emforming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters denote correspond- 1ng parts throughout the several views, and

' in which Figure 1 is a side view of the adjustable throw cranks as arranged on the drivingspindle of a cycle, andFig. 2 a part side view of the upper part of the cycle-frame and handlebar, while Fig. 3 shows a central verticalsection and an edge View of the adjustable throwcrank gear as arranged on the end parts of of the sliding bolt; Fig, 10, a perspective 'view of the brake-bands as attached to the supporting-bar; Fig. 11, a side view of a spring-catch attachment to the sliding bolt, and Fig. 12 a sectional view on line 0 c of Fig. 11.

In constructing the invention for use on a cycle each crank-arm A is formed on the onehalf of a divided eccentric band or strap A, the eccentric B for each strap being secured at each end part of the usual crank-axle G, upon which the sprocket or gear wheelC is secured, and it is by locking or setting each eccentric-strap A at the desired position on its eccentricB that the requisite length of throw or stroke is obtained.

Each eccentric B is provided with a radial which are carried on end of the crank-arm A I of the eccentric-straps A.

The variation in stroke is usually from one-quarter of an inch to three inches, and when only a limited number of variations of throw are desired the surplus notches a in the eccentric-strap A can be stopped up by securing filling-pieces (0 therein with set-screws, as shown by dotted. lines in Fig. 7.

Each eccentric B has a small grooved bar- 'rel G fitted loosely in an annular recess in it about the crank-axle C, and said barrel C is connected bya small chain a or other fleXi ble medium passing between a pair of rollers b with the said sliding. bolt B. The said sliding bolt B is bored out to receive a coiled spring 72 the purpose of which is to force the bolt B outward and into one of the said notches a in the eccentric-strap.

B is a cover-plate above the sliding bolt B, said plate being secured in a recess in eccentric B by screws 6*, and also it is provided with an adjustable set-screw 6 which bears against the sliding bolt B. j

An annular washer or cover'C is provided to fit over the neck of the loose barrel 0, said washer beingsecured to the eccentric by the screws 0.

each of said small barrels C isa brake-sheave D, and the one end of each brake-band D Affixed on the neck at one side of which fits in said sheave is secured to a crossbar D which is clipped to the cycle-frame E, while the other free end of each brake-band is connected by a wire F or other flexible medium, which is either passed into the tubular frame E or guided by eyelets outside of it with a small lever G, carried on the handlebar H, and hence by the rider putting on said brakes D through the medium of the lever G and wire F the sliding bolts B in the eccentrics B are drawn inward and release their hold of the eccentric-straps A, bearing the crank or treadle arms A, so that they may be set at the requisite position in relation to the eccentrics as to give the desired throw, and when at such position the brake D is released and the bolts B will be shot by their springs Z1 into the requisite gaps or notches a of the straps A,

For cycles traveling at high speeds a spring stop-catch I is sometimes attached to the cover-plate B of sliding bolt B. Said stopcatch is centered at z' and has a pin 2" on its outer end which is designed to pass through a hole in the eccentric-flange and thence into a tapered slot or recess a in the edge of eccentric-strap. The other or back end of the stop-catch normally tapers inward toward the eccentric, while under its fore part is a spring 6 Again, "0' is a pin secured into bolt B, and said pin slides in the slot 2'" as the bolt is worked to and fro, so that when the bolt is withdrawn from the eccentric-strap the back end of stop-catch l is lifted by pin i and so forces its outer end inward and the pin a" into the tapered slot (0 thus locking the eccentric and strap together at the requisite position to enable the bolt 15 to be shot into the desired gap at of the eccentric-strap to produce the necessary stroke. Also a pivoted button i may be provided to pass under lever I and lift and retain the pin 2" out of the tapered slot a The herein described adjustable throwcrank may also be adapted for use on other machines, the brake-gear being constructed to suit the various conditions and requirements of the machine.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto and a connection between said last-mentioned means and the locking device,said rotatable means adapted when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to effect through the connection the release of said locking device and thereby permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion.

2. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relativelythereto, a connection between said last-mentioned means and the locking device, said rotatable means adapted when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to effect through the connection the release of said locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, and means for arresting the movement of said rotatable means.

3. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, a connection between said last-mentioned means and the locking device, said rotatable means adapted, when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to effect through the connection the release'of said locking device to permit of adjusting oneot the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, and means adapted when operated to frictionally engage said rotatable means to arrest the movement thereof.

4t. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, a connection between said last-mentioned means and the locking device, said rotatable means adapted when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to effect through the connection the release of said locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, means adapted when operated to frictionally engage said rotatable means to arrest the movement thereof and means for operating said last-mentioned means.

5. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a flexible device connected to the locking device, and means for acting against the flexible device to draw the same in a direction to release the locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion.

6. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a barrel, a flexible means connected to the locking device and to the barrel, and

' means for causing the flexible device to wind barrel adapted when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to cause a relative rotation of the eccentric thereto and effect through said connection the release of said locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, and means for arresting the movement of the barrel. v

8. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is ad justable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a barrel movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, and flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel, said barrel adapted when its movement is arrested duringthe movement of the ecand rotatable relatively thereto, flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel,

said barrel adapted when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to cause a relative rotation of the eccentric with respect thereto and thereby cause the flexible device to wind upon the barrel and release the locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respectto its companion, and means for arresting the movement of the barrel.

10. .An adjustable throw-crank, comprising aneccentric and aband, oneof which is adjustable .with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a rotatable barrel, a connection between the locking device and the barrel, said barrel adapted, when its movement is arrested during the movement of the eccentric to effect through, the connection the release of said locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, means for arresting the'movement of the barrel, and, means adapted to frictionally engage'said barrel for arresting the movement thereof.

11. Anadjustable throw:crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, oneof. which is ad;

justable withrelation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a rotatable barrel movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto,flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the locking device to permit of adjusting one of the-adjustable parts with respect to its companion, means for arresting the movement of the barrel, and means for operating said last-mentioned means.

12. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a rotatable barrel, flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movementof-the barrel is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companion, a disk operative with said barrel, and means adapted to frictionally engage with said disk for arresting the movement of the barrel. 7

13. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, a locking device for maintaining them in an adjusted relation, a rotatable barrel, flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the bar- .relation, a rotatable barrel, flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the rotation of the occentric to wind upon the barrel and release the locking device to permit of adjusting one of the adjustable parts with respect to its companioma disk operative with said barrel,

a friction-band surrounding saiddisk, adapted when tightened to frictionally engage the same and arrest the movement thereof, and

meansfor tightening said friction-band.

15. Anadjustable throw-crank comprising an eccentric provided with ,a sliding bolt, a

ICC

band surrounding said, eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, and a connection between said lastmentioned means and the locking device and adapted, when the movement of said rotatable means is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to release said boltto permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric.

16. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding belt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided With a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, means connecting said last-mentioned means to the locking device and adapted, when the movement of said rotatable means is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to release said bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, and means for arresting said rotatable means.

17. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, means connecting said last-mentioned means to the locking device and adapted, when the movement of said rotatable means is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to release said bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, and means adapted when operated to frictionally engage said rotatable means to arrest the movement thereof.

18. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, means movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, means connecting said last-mentioned means to the locking device and adapted, when the movement of said rotatable means is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to release said bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, means adapted when operated to frictionally engage said rotatable means to arrest the movement thereof and means for operating said last mentioned means. 4

19. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding belt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a flexible device connected to the locking device, and means for acting against the flexible device to draw the same in a direction to release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric.

20. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding belt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a barrel, a flexible means connected to the locking device and to the barrel, and means for causing the llexible device to wind on the barrel and release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric.

2-1. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding belt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a rotatable barrel, a connection between the rotatable barrel and the sliding bolt, said connection adapted when the movement of thebarrclis arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, and means for arresting the movement of the barrel.

22. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding belt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adj ustably locking the band and eccentric together, a rotatable barrel movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, and flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric.

23. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a rotatable barrel movable with the eccentric and rotatable relatively thereto, flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the rotation of the eccentric to wind upon the barreland release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric and means for arresting the movement of the barrel.

2 1. An adjustable throw-crank comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a rotatable barrel,llexible means connecting the locking device 1 o the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the forward movement of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the bolt to permit of adj ustin the barrel with respect to the eccentric, a disk operative with said barrel, and means adapted to frictionally engage with said disk for arresting the movement of the barrel.

25. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a slidingv bolt, a band surrounding said eccentricand provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together,a rotatable barrel, flexible meansconnecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested duringthe forward movement of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, a disk operative with said barrel, and a friction-band surrounding said disk adapted when tightened to frictionally engage the same and arrest the movement thereof.

26. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric provided with a sliding bolt, a band surrounding said eccentric and provided with a series of notches adapted to receive said sliding bolt for adjustably locking the band and eccentric together, a rotatable barrel,

flexible means connecting the locking device to the barrel and adapted when the movement of the barrel is arrested during the'forward movement of the eccentric to wind upon the barrel and release the bolt to permit of adjusting the band with respect to the eccentric, a disk operative with said barrel, africtionband surrounding said disk adapted when tightened to frictionally engage the same and arrest the movement thereof, and means for tightening said friction-band. v

. 27. An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric, a band movable therewith and adjustable with respect thereto, a locking device for connecting the band to the eccentric and means adapted to engage and be operated by said locking device when the latter is released for momentarily arresting the movement of the band. to position the same to remit said locking device to lock the band and eccentric together.

29. An eccentric, a band movable therewith and adjustable with respect thereto, a locking device for connecting the band to the eccen' tric, means for releasing the locking device,

and means for automatically and momentarily arresting the movement of the band at a position to permit the locking device to lock the band to the eccentric.

30. "An adjustable throw-crank, comprising an eccentric and a band, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other, locking mechanismadapted to normally maintain said parts in their adjusted relation, means for releasing said locking mechanism, and a lever mechanism adapted, when saidlo'cking mechanism is released, to momentarily arrest the movement of said adjustable part to permit the locking device to lockit to its companion in a desired position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence oi two witnesses.

' JOSEPH RITSOHER. Y

Witnesses:

BEDL'INeToNBoDzooMB, W. J. S. THOMPSON. 

